St Brigid's Family & Community Centre provides various services to support families and the local community in Waterford Inner City, including: 1) Community development programs focused on empowerment, participation, and tackling social problems through collective action. 2) Family support services like a drop-in center, parenting programs, health workshops, and intergenerational projects. 3) Partnerships with other local organizations through involvement in networks addressing issues like domestic violence, drugs, literacy, and community safety.

1. St Brigid’s Family & Community Centre

2. CORE FUNCTIONS OF THE FAMILY RESOURCE CENTRE Establishing new groups Providing information resources Progression Education/ Training Support:- Self development parenting Building partnerships and networking Influencing Policy Promoting self alliance and autonomy (helping existing groups Enhance contact and participation

3. Our Remit Geographical Area: Waterford Inner City Population: 11,000 approx. Target Groups include Families, Individuals, Unemployed, Older People, Travellers, People with Disabilities, Women, Men, Children etc….. Funded through Family Support Agency from Dept of Community, Equality & Gaeltacht Affairs??

4. Community Development and Family Support are the primary focus of our work

5. Working Definition of Family Support Supporting families in communities to identify their family and local needs: to develop holistic responses and enhance participation in wider community life (Needs led, early intervention focused and preventative by nature)

6. What is Community Development ? A focus on empowerment and participation of marginalised groups in decision-making that impacts on their lives and communities A collective rather than an individual approach to tackling problems A social analysis and understanding of the causes of the problems- People doing it for themselves - PEOPLE POWER!

7. Staff Team Co-ordinator : Anne Goodwin Community Development workers : Mags Drohan and Liz Power Administrator: Imelda Doyle

8. St. Brigid’s Key Actions for 2011 Community Development & Social Inclusion Capacity Building: continue to deliver community development workshops to local groups Support Local Residents Associations in conjunction with SNU i.e. support and organisation of special events (Pride of Place, social events, de-briefing, St Patrick’s Day Parade etc.)

9. Community Development Cont’d Continue to distribute information on services through information events, meetings and local media etc Hold Environmental Awareness Workshops with the local community and City Council as needed Pluto pre-employment /training programme FADO Inner City Heritage & Arts Project up and running – LTI training programme Regular art & craft workshops with a range of age groups in the community

10. Family Support Drop In Centre established and ongoing development of a comprehensive group programme Delivery of Parenting and Grand Parenting Programmes at the Childrens Centre, Parent & Toddler Group, Keeping Safe Child Protection Training for community and voluntary groups A series of Health Workshops focusing on families, women and older people e.g. yoga, meditation, information talks etc Local Area Network on Domestic Violence – 16 Days of Action Awareness raising Ongoing development of Childrens Centre

11. Family Support Cont’d Waterford Contact Project: up and running with Volunteers visiting Older people in their own homes in the community Intergenerational Project: building on the success of ‘Waterford Life: Now and Then’ book, 2011 project focuses on exchanging skills e.g. cookery and dance, between older and younger people Community Safety Month: Information talks with the local community from Gardai, HSE, Fire Service re: personal/home/neighbourhood safety

12. Family Support Cont’d Continued Awareness Raising regarding Elder Abuse – Coffee mornings with professionals & community Weekly Friday Coffee Morning Group with Older Women with a focus on social and informal educational opportunities & information talks Holding/linking in with regular social events for older people e.g. tea dances etc

13. INTER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT Local Area Network on Domestic Violence MEND (Men Ending Domestic Violence) Healthy Cities Waterford Working Group Inner City Community Drugs Initiative Waterford Integration Forum Dessa Waterford Literacy Link Keeping Safe Steering Group Waterford Parents Network Waterford Contact Project Steering Group South East Regional Forum of FRC’s National Forum of FRC’s

14. Other Services in St Brigid’s Citizens Information Service Therapeutic Services: - Adult Personal Counselling - Marriage & Relationship Counselling - Teen Between - Play Therapist DESSA Worker CIB Advocacy Service Jobs Sampling Initiative Sr Philomena’s Groups Range of Support Group meetings e.g. AA, Stammers Assoc., GROW etc. St Brigid’s Shops St Brigids Children Centre

15. St Brigid's Children Centre A purpose designed space which is child-centred Completely accessible & integrated Affordable and quality assured Providing a range of services to support parents e.g.. talks, workshops, the big school project and individual sessions when required